NEW location

block 134 Main street putnam

The most sincere thank you to all of our incredible supporters who worked so hard to make our relocation possible, and to the local businesses who contributed to make our grand opening extraordinary!

an award-Winning venue for local and regional artists

Silver Circle Gallery and Art Center in downtown Putnam, Connecticut, New England, was established in 2008 as a venue to represent local and regional visual artists and to enhance the abundant creative network in NECT. It has been a dynamic place for artists at all career levels to convene, connect, share, inspire and enrich our tight-knit community. Our beautiful art gallery compliments our artist's varied work.

Silver Circle is a professional launching pad for local artists and fosters art appreciation through rotating art displays from over 50 local artists, gallery talks and demonstrations, and an arts education and therapeutic arts program. The bright, contemporary art gallery offers rotating displays by our art collective members, with a wide variety of quality fine art in a broad price range and style. We also have sculpture, art glass, and assemblage. There is a beautiful boutique area with handcrafted jewelry, textiles, pottery, and gifts by local and regional artisans. The adjacent "Art Alley" is a display space for a rotating assortment of local emerging artists and students. The new PS Art Gallery space shows Pomfret Preparatory School's student and faculty works.

Winter Gallery Hours

Thursday - Saturday 11:00am to 5:00pm

Sunday 12:00pm to 4:00pm

*or by appointment*

Closed Mon - Wed

art classes

We offer a wide range of art classes and art workshops in a friendly environment that encourages everyone to find your inner artist! Discover the joys of creativity while building skills. Find out for yourself why art is so important and fun!

Handcrafted jewelry & gifts

We have a wonderful selection of high quality, handmade gifts by local artisans in all price ranges. Unique jewelry, textiles, blown and fused glass, pottery, and more. Skip the mall & find meaningful gifts here that are 100% original.

rotating art displays

Silver Circle shows a host of local and regional collective member artists throughout the year in our art gallery. Enjoy frequently changing displays in a variety of styles, sizes, and price ranges. Come meet the artists every weekend, and join for First Fridays May - October.

Please register with the paypal button

in the news

current exhibit

February, 2018...The Silver Circle Gallery in Putnam, CT is proud to announce the upcoming exhibit Inner Circle: Women in the Arts. In recognition of International Women's Day and Women's History Month, the exhibit will feature work that honors the incredible women of art. The exhibit will be on display March 2 - April 15, 2018 with works featured by Diane Wright, Gabrielle Zane, Kathi Packer, Krista Stanowicz, Lauren Koger, Phoebe Godfrey, Tamara Dimitri, and Tina Shirshac. A reception will take place on Friday, March 2 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm. Refreshments will be available

Born in New Orleans, Diane Wright has lived most of her life in New England apart from a 9 year residence in South Africa. She studied at the Rhode Island School of Design and obtained her Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts in illustration and has only recently found her medium as a three dimensional mixed media collage and assemblage artist. She has raised two children and currently resides in the Northwest corner of Connecticut. Of her work in reassemblage she says, "I have used elements which have been discarded to re-create my impressions of the current state of affairs or of thoughts that have passed through my mind."

Gabrielle Zane is a writer and visual artist who holds an M.F.A from Bennington College. She is a Teaching Artist for the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism and has been an artist-in-residence in schools throughout New England. Her work, "explores the realms of connection and how our striving for intimacy affects our relationships to ourselves, nature, and the world around us." Her work is in a number of private collections and also on display in businesses in the Windham area.

Connecticut artist Kathi Packer creates imaginative tableaux of wildlife using video and photography from her travels on safari in Africa. "Stills" of zebra and wildebeest inspire Packer to explore the vulnerability of migratory species experiencing persistent drought and effects of climate change. Since receiving her BFA at the Hartford Art School in 1993, Packer has held eight solo exhibitions in New York City and over 100 solo and selected exhibitions throughout New England. Her work is included in many private and permanent collections.

Krista Stanowicz was born and raised in Connecticut and took many art classes during her youth and teenage years. After high school Krista decided to take her skills and education seriously and received her Associates Degree in Fine Arts from Quinebaug Valley CC, then transferred to Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts and graduated with a BFA in drawing in 2013. Since graduation Krista has been partaking in group art shows, solo commissions, and produces art in her studio. Of her Blurred Lines portrait series she says, "are the start of a painterly essence to my typically graphic work. These particular paintings were inspired by line, color, and the illusion of double vision.

As a young girl from Rhode Island, Lauren Koger started reading books on psychology and theology as early as middle school. Koger discovered her passion for conveying the human body at her first figure drawing class at the Rhode Island School of Design at the age of 15 [with a particular intrigue in women]. "There was a fascination to explore the soul of my subjects through art. I wanted to know everything about them at that very moment." In 2008 she started a nonprofit organization called Art Saves People. The mission was to promote artists in creatively using negative energy (such as negative experiences and emotions) and transferring it intosomething positive (such as personal growth/healing or fundraising). After college, Lauren was accepted as and sponsored by RAW: Natural Born Artists. She went on tour in August of 2014 with ASP volunteers. She appeared in major cities such as Boston, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Orange County.

Phoebe Godfrey is a sociologist who is also an artist. In the last few years her art has been focused on the topics of identity & intimacy, as well as our relationships to the environment / ourselves.She has included her art work, and that of others, in her academic work as she thinks that the arts are key to our abilities to engage in progressive social and personal change.She takes the topics of her paintings from famous old masters' paintings and then makes significant changes to them to make them modern in a provocative way.Her current project is for a series of paintings that reinterpret the Garden of Eden story from the perspective of Eve in order to reverse the story of the fall into being merely Adam's fantasy / nightmare.

Tamara Dimitri is an artist and an arts administrator. Over the past several years her focus has been on arts administration which placed a temporary pause to her work as a visual artist, but artists are resilient and remain engaged in the arts regardless of life obstacles. Her work "is inspired by landscapes, often it's the solitude nature of spaces that lure me in, but I'm also intrigued by the human footprint and our tendencies to alter the landscape around us."

Tina M. Shirshac is an artist, gardener and practicing reiki master & healing facilitator. She lives in northeastern Connecticut and uses found objects & natural elements in all her work. She has hopes that if we are grounded in the present moment that we will be able to see that all things are connected.

ITAP FUNDRAISER

We're proud to announce our first 2018 exhibit, 12 x 12, featuring a collection of 12" x 12" works graciously donated by our gallery artists. Each piece is priced at $100 and all profits go to fund our Integrative Therapeutic Arts Program (ITAP).

Join us during Putnam's Eighth Annual Fire & Ice Valentine's Festival for a reception from 2 to 4 PM. Refreshments will be available.

By offering these pieces at only $100 for an original work of art, Silver Circle Gallery & Art Center hopes to reach their goal of making art accessible to the community.

All profits raised by the "12 x 12" show will go toward their Integrative Therapeutic Arts Program (ITAP) designed to provide the benefits of creative healing art programs and workshops to the community. ITAP Recently partnered with the Pomfret Community School (PCS) to complete its fall session of the Therapeutic Arts Mentorship program for students through a grant from Windham Arts . Proceeds from this show will help sponsor similar custom programs/workshops with area schools and partnerships with community organizations to bring healing and well-being to the community through the arts.

WE MOVED

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

As Silver Circle Gallery celebrates its tenth year, they are thrilled to announce the art center's be expanded presence in downtown Putnam by relocating to 134 Main Street.

This strategic move will allow Silver Circle to offer an even more diverse range of creative programs and gallery exhibits in a larger space. Since 2008, the Silver Circle Art Center has fulfilled its mission to enrich our area's creative fabric, promote and contribute to its economic viability, enhance the quality of life for our community, support regional artists and art educators, and provide a space for them to engage with the public.

Silver Circle will continue its collaboration with P.S. Art Gallery, the official gallery of Pomfret School since 2013. Pomfret School Gallery is home to a rotating exhibit of student, faculty, and guest artwork and performances. In addition to the real-world value of creating and curating an exhibit, many of the student pieces are available for purchase, and the proceeds benefit the operation of Pomfret School Gallery.

Silver Circle has become recognized as a culturally relevant asset to NE CT by helping to establish and enhance the growing arts district in Downtown Putnam and beyond. Silver Circle has fostered community art appreciation and education with rotating exhibits, demonstrations, gallery talks, events, art classes for all ages, and access to the health benefits of creativity through our Integrative Therapeutic Arts Program (ITAP). Silver Circle Art Center has been awarded as Best Art Gallery in 2016 and 2017 by Norwich Magazine for its positive community impact.

images from first friday 2017: "ART IN THE MAKING"- FEATURING ARTISTS, KAREN REID AND JAIMEE TABORDA

ITAP Facilitator Johanna Pike and Silver Circle receive Grant

Press Release: Silver Circle’s Integrative Therapeutic Arts Program Brings Creativity and Confidence to Pomfret Community School Students

This January, six students from Pomfret Community School (PCS) exhibited paintings, masks, and handmade jewelry at the the Silver Circle Art Center in Putnam, CT. The students had just completed the first session of a special Therapeutic Arts Mentorship program, designed to increase self-expression, confidence, self-image, and social skills among girls in grades 5-8. designed to increase self-expression, confidence, self-image, and social skills among girls in grades 5-8. This program is offered through a partnership between Silver Circle Art Center and PCS, and funded in part through a Regional Initiative Grant ...

current ps gallery exhibit

Emerging Women in the Arts

March 1 - April 8, 2018

The PS Gallery is delighted to join with Silver Circle in celebrating the amazing voices of women in the arts. From March 1 through April 8, the PS Gallery will showcase its Emerging Women in the Arts exhibit, featuring work by emerging Pomfret School student artists Alexsa Jack ‘18, Leslie Rosario-Olivo ‘18, Oliva Batastini-Pallister ‘18, and Dolores Ma ‘18.

Alexsa Jack has created a series of self-portraits that serve as a timeline of strong black women throughout history. Alexsa used herself as a model as she explored what a strong black woman would look like pre-slavery, during slavery, in the Reconstruction Era, in the 1920s Harlem Renaissance, and in the 60s, 70s, 90s, and current day. By using herself as a model, she was able to access a personal connection to her pieces, to control the facial expressions and body language in each piece, and to reflect the unique experience of darker women across time. Alexsa’s work emerges from a period of intensive research, which allowed her to understand the “mood” of the women in each time period. The final portrait in the series is a painting of Jack herself, wearing the same clothing she will wear at the exhibit opening reception on March 2.

When asked about her inspiration for this body of work, Jack says, “I started this because as a black young female, I’m continually directly and indirectly told that my voice should be altered or that my feelings are invalid. I wanted to show that through all their adversities, these women are strong and still standing. I wanted to show that I vicariously do live through all of those women and understand them. Meaning that I bare their struggle… in my skin, hair, lips, stature, and everything in between.” She continues, “I also want to also exalt their beauty, even though they may be picking cotton or standing in the streets of Harlem.”

Student artist Leslie Rosario-Olivo has created a monumental-scale scroll for this exhibit that portrays the complexities of female anger as a natural human occurrence. Photographer Olivia Batastini-Pallister has created a body of photography that looks to destigmatize mental health. Artist Dolores Ma is unveiling a new series of ceramic sculptures. All four artists offer fresh and unique perspectives on ways that visual art can reframe our understanding of the past and engage with our contemporary culture.

The PS Gallery will join with Silver Circle to host an exhibit reception on March 2 from 6-8:30pm. This reception will feature a meet and greet with all the artists, music performances, and a performance of a new contemporary dance piece by student choreographer Trina Madziwa, which will debut that evening at 7:00.

COMMUNITY ART PROJECT: "A MILLION REASONS TO LOVE PUTNAM"

We launched our Community Art Project: "A Million Reasons to Love Putnam" on July 1, 2017 during the Downtown Putnam Star Spangled Celebration. The idea was the creation of Art Center Education Program Coordinator, Heather Mitchell, and was designed and hand-bound (using the coptic method) by artist and illustrator, Kennedy Marshall. The binding is made of multicolored yarns and is intricately braided with waxed linen thread weaved through natural handmade Italian paper. Whether you are a resident, a visitor, a vacationer, or a passerby, we urge you to visit our exceptional gallery and write down one of your reasons why you love Putnam! Once the journal is full, it will be donated to the Putnam Visitors' Center for future generations to view, relish, and enjoy!

we offer private classes & group workshops!!

for yourself or a group of friends -- organize yours today!

we require:

a request for a specific class and instructor

2-3 possible days/times that work for your schedule

number of participants anticipated

once your class is scheduled We will require the following:

a non-refundable deposit that includes the minimum amount for 1-3 participants within five days of class date confirmation

purchase gift certificates online

available in any amount

good towards fine art, art classes, or handmade gift items

live studio at silver circle gallery

meet members of our collective every weekend and watch them work, learn more about their creative process, see current art works, and get to know their unique story as an artist.

Get to know your local creative community and help support their work.

An arts renaissance in the heart of downtown putnam

the arts district of northeastern Connecticut

Silver Circle Gallery & Art Center is located in the (not so) "Quiet Corner" of Northeastern Connecticut, New Englandin the quaint historic district of downtown Putnam, CT, New England. Putnam has enjoyed a recent cultural renaissance andis a thriving area filled with acclaimed restaurants, boutiques, galleries, and antique stores.